“Listening to Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau, it’s as if [Stephen] Stills’ vision of an eclectic band combining acoustic and electric instruments with singer-songwriter based tunes laced with extended jams and instrumental muscle while breaking all the rules of genre fixation, has come to life again.” – No Depression
Owepar Records is proud to release the reissue of Reconstruction, the fifth studio album from Richie Owens and The Farm Bureau. Originally released in 2020, Reconstruction became a favorite for music fans “in the know,” which included artists, producers, songwriters, the Nashville community and those who had a finger on the pulse of what was happening just below the surface of the roots/rock scene.
Reconstruction is an eclectic blend of classic and alternative rock, folk and amplified Americana peppered with touches of ‘60s and ‘70s pop, psychedelic tones and instrumental virtuosity. What lies at the heart of Reconstruction is thoughtful and introspective songwriting. The 11 songs address a range of deeply personal and highly relatable subjects such as lost love, longing nostalgia, losing loved ones, resilience, toxic relationships and even people trying to cross the border just to try and make a better life for their families.
“Reconstruction is me, laid bare,” say Owens. “It’s a reckoning with everything I’ve lived through, everything I’ve lost, and everything I still believe music can be. I didn’t set out to chase the past — but the sounds that raised me, the ones that shaped my soul — Lennon, Petty, Bowie, and the roots of East Tennessee — they all came calling. These songs came out like ghosts knocking on the door, and I let ’em in. Every track’s got a little blood in it, a little dirt under the nails. It’s not some retro trip — it’s me rebuilding what matters, piece by piece, note by note, after the storms.”. He adds, “This re-release marks the five-year anniversary of Reconstruction, and truth is, it never got its proper shot the first time. We put it out the same month the world shut down. No tour, no shows — just silence. But now, it’s finally getting a second breath, and I’m grateful folks are leaning in to hear it. With the Farm Bureau back by my side, this album feels more alive than ever. It’s the most honest damn thing I’ve ever done.
Reconstruction was produced and mixed by Richie Owens, whose resume overflows with credits as a producer, engineer, multi-instrumentalist, session ace, instrument designer and artist, who also sings lead and plays harmonica, acoustic & electric guitars, pedal steel, mandolin, piano, organ and mellotron.
Reconstruction is available through the Smoky Mountain DNA Shop. Visit RichieOwens.com.